Some insight needed...I think I know what my problem is

[Zef_66]

Well, I think I know what my issue is. But I would like some other thoughts on it.

A couple weeks ago, I noticed my DIC was flickering every couple seconds when I would start the car. It would dim, then go back bright. Couple seconds later do the same thing. Then all would be fine. Scanned for voltage, and everything looked fine. So I just ignored it. Well, recently, the DIC has not been coming on right when I start the car. But after a second or two it would light up. And now, it will take about 20 minutes of driving for it to work.

And it is only the display. My tire pressure light is on (due to non-related ABS issue) and that isn't affected. Just the display of the DIC. So my thought was my DIC is going south. Time to order one from Ed.

Then this morning, I stopped half way to work for some grub. And the DIC of course wasn't working when I started it back up. No big deal. As I get back on the highway and drive, I am getting chilled a little, and notice that I my blower isn't working at all. Hmm...10 minutes later, the DIC starts working again and my blower motor for the heat returns at the same time.

So now my thought is I need to clean, or replace the ignition switch. Any thoughts?

[SyntheticShield]

Well I was going to say one of two things. The only time I have seen that happen is with a Stage 2 Voltage booster and the ignition switch going bad. Since you dont have the voltage booster my vote is for the ignition switch.

[Zef_66]

Well I was going to say one of two things. The only time I have seen that happen is with a Stage 2 Voltage booster and the ignition switch going bad. Since you dont have the voltage booster my vote is for the ignition switch.

Hmm...well, I do have a voltage booster of sorts. I did the "free" mod and soldered in a diode. Bascially the same thing. But mine is less than a stage 1 I would say. Before I did the mod, I got around 14.4V. Now I get 14.5V sometimes. But nothing huge. And it has been like this for the past 2 years without issue.

About 1.5 years ago, I did have a couple times where I would start the car and my DIC, radio, and blower motor would not work. Shut the car off and restart and everything was fine. But it hasn't done this in a long time. I had always planned on cleaning the ignition switch to get rid of the carbon. I even have the instructions printed out and the screws for the steering column cover removed. But since it hasn't given me any trouble since then, I never did it. Maybe a job for this weekend....

[Reptile]

I've had the occasional "flash" if you will. I just see it out of the corner of my eye that it just seems to get brighter then goes back to normal. I might have to look into it a little more now.

[SyntheticShield]

Well the Stage 2 booster only caused the DIC to flicker, and only did so in fairly cool temps right as I started the car for the first time for the day. As the car warmed up it would go away so I assumed it was due to the alternator maxing out output until it settled down after everything warmed up. But mine was putting out darn near 15v at max and then would settle around 14.8 or so. I have since scaled it back to a Stage 1 since I did the same as you and modified the stage 1 to be a stage 2.

So with all that said and the other symptoms you are describing I would believe your issue to be with the ignition switch. I had to replace mine in January and my blower motor, radio and DIC just would not work. So I replaced the blower motor resistor (the fan would not work on fan setting #5 but was fine on 1-4, the then ignition switch took out 1-4). In the process I also installed BackInBlack's ignition saver modification.

So if you clean yours out and all the functions return, I would look into doing that modification. Its fairly easy to install.

[Zef_66]

So if you clean yours out and all the functions return, I would look into doing that modification. Its fairly easy to install.

I have considered doing that whenever I would get around to cleaning it, or installing another one (from Ed). Maybe will have to start collecting the goodies I need.

Does BackinBlack have the writeup for the ignition saver on here?

*goes to look*

Should be this I think:
http://www.grandprixforums.net/f73/p...-mod-2698.html

[SyntheticShield]

That is Toasty's revised edition of it, but that is essentially it. I may have BackInBlack's diagram on my hard drive somewhere. Toasty did one, I believe so that you would not have to cut into the ignition switch wire harness, where as BackInBlack's requires you to cut a couple of the wires in the harness to connect them to the relay.